Figure3 Case Study for the Penguin Shop Project

Retail / Toronto, ON / 158 sq ft

After successfully designing Penguin Random House’s new Canadian headquarters, we were tasked with designing an Instagram-friendly retail space in a footprint of just 158sf. With a brief to create something that read like a departure from a traditional bookstore, we set to work creating something delightful.

We believe in coupling deep insight with creative vision to transform spaces that deliver real value. Starting with our core principles of good retail design, we sought to create a store that would be open and social, compelling, engaging, focused, compatible, constantly evolving and ownable.

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Outsized impact, compact square footage

Floating ledges, immersive displays, and mobile bookshelves all serve to showcase a carefully curated selection of titles and merchandise.

Oversized, pantry-style pull out storage glide out on a ceiling mounted rail system to reveal books and branded swag. Wrapped in magnetic vinyl designed to resemble book spines, the space can quickly be re-skinned creating an affordable way to keep the store constantly evolving.
The modest footprint is anchored by a branded backlit wall and movable display units that allow product to be positioned outside the shop front, inviting passersby to venture in.

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Outsized book spines create a sense of discovery when they reveal curated selections

Outsized book spines create a sense of discovery when they reveal curated selections

Outsized impact, compact square footage

Floating ledges, immersive displays, and mobile bookshelves all serve to showcase a carefully curated selection of titles and merchandise.

Oversized, pantry-style pull out storage glide out on a ceiling mounted rail system to reveal books and branded swag. Wrapped in magnetic vinyl designed to resemble book spines, the space can quickly be re-skinned creating an affordable way to keep the store constantly evolving.
The modest footprint is anchored by a branded backlit wall and movable display units that allow product to be positioned outside the shop front, inviting passersby to venture in.

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“
We love clients who are brave and daring enough to do something boldly different. For Penguin, it's really paid off.

Mardi Najafi

Director, Retail Design

Different by design

Is there a science to designing stores that “just work”?
At figure3, we’ve identified seven principles to designing stores that do just that.
Informed by empirical observation into how people behave, secondary research from cognitive science, psychology, neuroscience and behavioural economics and over a century of collective design experience; we know what it takes to change how people think, feel, decide and behave.

Learn more about how we couple deep insight with creative vision to transform the spaces we design.